Circuit-closing device



' ym" MANN "OPV n Nov. 1923.

R. G. PARKER CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3l. 1920 Patented Nov. 6, 1923.

- UNITEDg STATES-- RAY G. ranxnn, 4or DALLAS, TEXAS.

cmcUIncLosINe DEVICE.

lApplication led January 31, 1920'. VSerial No. 355,522.

To all/whom tana concern.'`

Be it knownt at I, RAY G. PARKER, a

citizen of the United States, residin at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and tate of Texas, have invented certa-in new anduseful' Improvements in Circuit-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification. a i

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in circuit closing devices for internal combustion motors. v

The aim Vof the invention is to provide a circuit closing or timing device for controlling the ignition of the charges in the cylinders of the motor and to arrange said device so that no lubricant is re uired and whereby a dry cont-actv is had; a so to provide positive circuit closing and breaking means of a simple and durable nature tosought is more eiiicient and reliable ignition with a low cost of maintenance and a long period of service. v

In carrying out the invention a case or shell is equipped with a plurality of circuit controlling elements in position to .be engaged by a wiper carried Iby the operating shaft and revolved within the case. Means is provided for excluding oil Vromzentering the case and fouling the contact points.

I prefer to employ acircuit'controlling element comprising a resilient member formed with a protuberance in the path of the wiper and holding a spring contact away from its contact post, the resilient member having a greater spring tension than the spring contact and the latter being tensioned so as to engage its contact post when released.Y The resilientmember is arranged to release the spring contact when engaged by the wiper and withdraw the spring contact when freed by the wiper, thus breaking the circuit.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the 'following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the Vinvention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

. Fig. 3 is a. perspective detail of the resilient member and the spring Contact.

gether with means for excluding oil and other liquids from the device. The result In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a case comprising an annular flange 11 and acap 12. The flange engages within a ring or annulus 13 cast on the motor 14. At the center of the. cap a socket 15 is provided forreceiving a pivot point on a suitableretainer (not'shown)` which is now in common use onFord automobiles. y

vAt equidistant points on the Harige 11, binding posts 16 are mounted and a description of one and its correlated parts will suffice for all. The binding post is screw* threaded and has a Hat head 17 at its inner end within the case.` The head bears against collar togetherv and a second nut 21 is employed to fastenl the ignition wire (not shown) to the post. i

On the head 17 a contact point 22 is provided and positioned to be engaged by a contact 24.r The opposite end of the spring is fastened on the oifset portion of a bracket 25 secured toi the inner side oi. the flange. A. resilient member 26 is fastened on top of the spring by rivets 27 which also pass thru the spring and are secured in the bracket. The member 26 is made of spring metal of a considerably greater tension than the spring 24. This member is bent to form a rounded boss or loop 28 at its free end and terminates in an inwardly directed hook 29 engaging under the outer end of the spring 24.

The member 26 thru its hook 29 holds the spring in a flexed or bent position against its tension and whereby the Contact points 22 and 23 are separated and the circuit open or broken. This is the normal position, but it is obvious that when the member 26 is displaced toward the flange 11 the hook 29 will release the spring 24 and the latter will tend to assume a natural or straight position, whereby its contact point 23 will engage the point 22 and close the circuit. Just as soon as pressure isV relieved from the memberV 26 it, thru its superior tension, will swing outward and pull the spring to its flexed position, thus breaking the circuit.

point 23 on the end of a 'leaf spring f.

I have illustrated with four circuit controlling elements, but the number may vary. A shaft 3() driven by the motor projects centrally into the case and is shouldered and reduced to receive a collar 3l fastened thereon by a nut 32. The collar carries a radial arm 33 provided with a pair ot' ears 34 at right angles thereto and between which a wiper block 35 is Yfastened. The wiper block may be wedge-shaped with its inner end bearing against the collar 3l and its outer and wider end rounded and extending beyond the arm. The bosses 28 of the resilient members v26 are in the path of the block which is revolved with the shaft. It will be seen that the block will readily ride onto the bosses and displace each member thereby permitting the spring 2a to bring its contact 23 into engagement with the contact point 22 of the binding post and close the circuit. As the block rides off of the boss the member 2G will pull the spring back and open the circuit. J

It is important that oil be excluded from the case and therefore I mount a disk 36 on the shaft 30 and fasten the same against the shoulder by the collar 31. lVithin the flange I dispose an annular guard 37 which is dished at its center and formed with an annular trough 39 surrounding the collar and disposed between the disk and the wiper. The guard has a laterally directed flange 38 around its outer periphery and on the opposite side to the trough. This flange 38 fits snugly within the flange 11. It will be seen that any oil working along the shaft 30 from the motor 14 will encounter the vdisk 39 and be confined between the wall of the motor and the guard 37; while any oil entering at the top between the annulus 13 and the flange 1l will be diverted by the flange 38 and pass down the rear side of the guard to the trough 39. Other means o1 excluding oil could be evolved and the illustration is merely an eXemplifica-tion.

Vhat I claim, is:

In a circuit closing device for internal combustion engines, a casing, a plurality of contacts carried by the casing and insulated therefrom, terminals connected with the contacts, a corresponding number ol leaf springs extending circumferentially within the casing in cooperative relation to the contacts and having contact elements to co* act with said contacts, means for securing corresponding ends of the leaf springs to the easing, resilient actuating elements extending eircumferentially wit-hin the casing upon the inner sides of the leaf springs and having corresponding ends thereof secured. to the casing in a manner whereby such ends are held against perceptible movement with relation to the casing, said actuating elements being longitudinally curved to provide inwardly projecting cam surfaces provided at their ends with hooks to engage in advance of the leaf springs, said actuating elements being stiffer than the leaf springs and locally yieldable throughout the greater portion of their length and a rotatable wiper arranged to engage said cam surfaces, the wiper having curved engaging surfaces which coact with the longitudinally curved cam surfaces in a manner to gradually depress the actuating elements thereby reducing friction and wear to a minimum.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

RAY G. PARKER. 

